Improvement in fire-lighters for engines



Witnesses 0. E. THOMPSON. Fire-(Lighter for Engines.

Patented May 20, 1879-.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE oHARLEs E. THOMPSON, or STOCKTON,CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT -lN FIRE-LIGHTERS FOR ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,492, dated May 20,1879; application filed August 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOHARLES EDWIN THOMP- SON, of Stockton, county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented a Fire- Lighter forEngines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to a device for lighting the fires of engines,being more particularly intended to be applied to steam fire-engines,where it is necessary to start the fire quickly.

My improvements consist in mounting on a suitable bar under the grate ofthe boiler a cup containing certain chemicals, and placing in said cup aglass vial of liquid, which, when mixed with the chemicals in the cup,will generate a flame to light the kindlings in the firebox. Levers arearranged to be operated from either end of the engine by means of cords,so that at the proper moment, by operating a lever, the glass vialcontaining the liquid will be broken and the liquid be mixed with thechemicals, so as to generate a flame.

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a section.Fig. 3 shows its application.

Let A represent a metal bar, which passes across under the grate of thefire-box, and is secured at the ends by means of bolts to thegrate-frames or shell. On the center of this bar is mounted an iron cup,B, having on its inner side a recess, O, formed in such a shape that itwill contain and hold in place a glass vial, D, while at the same time,in case the vial is broken, its contents will pass immediately into thelarge cup 13. For this purpose the recess 0 has 'a slot, D, cut down it,through which the liquid may flow into the cup. 011 the outer side ofthe cup B is a lug, E, through which passes the fulcrum-pin of a lever,F, the

upper end of said lever being turned at right angles, so as to form apoint, G. A hole is made in the side of the cup 13, through which thepoint G of the lever F projects, the end of said point coming oppositethe recess 0, in which the glass vial is placed. At the end of the longarm of the lever F is a ring or hook, to which a cord may be attachedfor operating the lever.

Another lever, H, is horizontally pivoted on the bar A, its short armengaging with the long arm of the lever F, as shown, and its long armbeing formed with a ring or hook, to which a cord may be secured,

A spring, I, is secured to the bar A and the long arm of the lever H, soas to draw the lever back into place after it is operated by the cord.

The operation of my device is as follows: The bar holding the cup issecured in place under the grate of the fire-engine, of which it forms apermanent fixture. In the cup B is placed any substance or mixture ofsubstances which will take fire in contact with a liquid to be inclosedin the vial. A mixture, for instance, of chlorate of potash and sugarmight be placed in the cup and sulphuric acid in the vial.

When it is desired to start up the fire, by pulling on the cordconnecting with either of the levers, one leading to the front and theother to the rear of the engine, the point of the lever will be thrownagainst the glass vial, thus breaking it, and allowing its contents toflow into the chemicals in the cup. This ignites them, and the flamerising upward lights the kindling in the fire-box andstarts the fireimmediately.

This device is especially useful for steam fire-engines, where it isnecessary that the fires shall be ignited quickly, so that steam may beraised by the time the conflagration is reached.

Frequently delay is occasioned in lighting the fires under the boiler,but with this device a sudden quick flame is thrown up among the kindlings and the fire started immediately.

This device is always ready for action, the cup and vial being filledeach time when the engine returns to the house, ready for use on thenext occasion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The firebox of a furnace, in combination with a chemical fire-ignitin g apparatus, for the purpose set forth.

2. The fire-box of a furnace and a chemical igniting apparatus, incombination with a lever or system of levers and connections to mix thechemicals and put the igniter in operation from various parts of theengine, substantially as set forth.

3. The cup B and the interior vial D, fitted, as described,- so as to beemptied of its 0011- tents by the point G, in combination with theII'YQI' F and cord leading to the drivers seat, substantially ashereiu'described.

4. The cup B, with its contained fragile vial D, held soas to be brokenor emptied of its contentsby the action of a point, G, in combinationwith the levers F H, mounted upon.

the bar A across the ash'pit, and having cords leading to the front andrear of the en-

